Formation and development of the Aromatherapy Organisations Council

Aromatherapy is increasingly used alongside orthodox medicine in hospitals and via GP referral. However, doctors and other health professionals are concerned about training standards, codes of conduct, and standards of practice. These concerns were the focus of a Working Party established in 1990 to promote a single body for the practice of aromatherapy. Today the range of training courses available may seem confusing and this is compounded by aromatherapy massage courses run by many further education colleges under the health and beauty umbrella, which claim to offer recognized qualifications in aromatherapy. So what is a 'qualified aromatherapist'? What are the recognized training standards for the profession? Which professional associations are recognized? Is there a self-regulating and governing body for aromatherapy and what is its remit? What is happening on the European front? This paper describes the role and remit of the Aromatherapy Organisations Council (AOC) who are committed towards identifying unified training standards and maintaining a register of training establishments.